Two slain on Jacksonville's Westside; police shooting investigated

JACKSONVILLE -- Homicide detectives are investigating a double shooting that left two men dead on the Westside, and they are investigating a separate police-involved shooting in the New Town area.

Homicide detectives began investigating a double shooting in West Melissa Court shortly before midnight after neighbors reported hearing gunshots. Two men, whose identities were not released, were found in a driveway. One of the men was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other was taken to Shands Jacksonville hospital and pronounced dead.

Police spokeswoman Melissa Bujeda said investigators did not have a motive. The two deaths bring the year's homicide total to 138, matching all of 2007.

Separately, detectives are on the scene of a police-involved shooting Wednesday morning on Woodside Street. The suspect was taken to the hospital alive and is in serious condition, according to police.

Here's how Chief of Dectives Dwain Senterfitt described what happened:

About 4:30 a.m. a woman was sexually battered in the area of Woodside Street. The suspect left the scene and took the woman's car and cell phone. An acquaintance at the scene called the suspect with police listening in.

He said he was returning to the scene pursued by police. He said he had gun and drugs in the car. The officer listenng to the conversation relayed the information to dispatchers, who advised the police pursuing the suspect.

A brief police chase occurred, which ended on Woodside when the suspect ran the car into a tree. He got out and ran from two officers who ordered him to stop. Senterfitt said the suspect reached into his waistband and one of the officers fired two shots, hitting the man once in the leg.

Police recovered a knife and drugs from the suspect but at this point no gun. The man, whose name has not been released, was taken to Shands Jacksonville hospital.

This marks the 17th person shot by Jacksonville police this year -- half ended in death.